Gift Cards Get Augmented Reality Treatment for Holidays

LOS ANGELES—Dec. 17, 2010—Just in time for Santa, Ad-Dispatch, Credelis Media Group and Total Immersion, the global leader in augmented reality (AR), have come up with a way to add a personal touch to that most impersonal of holiday gifts—the gift card.

Now, gift card buyers can easily attach a special video message to a gift card:

With the AR app—developed by Credelis and Ad-Dispatch using Total Immersion’s D’Fusion software—gift cards come alive, conveying messages that go beyond the face value of the card. Ad-Dispatch and Credelis are members of Total Immersion’s North American Partner network, the world’s largest network dedicated to augmented reality.

For the gift card buyer, the experience is as simple as uploading or recording a video message and entering the recipient’s information. It’s just as easy to receive as to give: all the recipient needs to do is open a Website, display the gift card to a webcam and then watch as the gift card plays the personalized message.

Credelis is an innovative media company specializing in digital “Outernet” solutions. The Outernet combines emerging digital mediums, such as digital signage and touchscreens, together with mobile, the web and out-of-home advertising. Ad-Dispatch is one of Canada’s leading content providers, working with some of the top brands in the country.

“Our AR gift card application is simple, easy, and fun to use,” said Jonathan Burns, VP Business Development for Ad-Dispatch, which is offering the solution to consumers in Canada. “Gift cards do not have to be re-printed and nothing special needs to be done with the card—that’s the beauty of this solution.”

“This is an example of how augmented reality can take an existing product like a gift card and add more value to it,” said Edwin Rivera, President of Credelis, which is marketing the app in the United States. “Gift cards are incredibly popular, but gift givers often want to add a personal touch—and now they can, effortlessly.”